As the pastor of Trinity United Methodist Church, I believe our call is to remind everyone that God’s grace includes those living with HIV. The church must be a place of healing, not hiding.
Among the many touched by the initiative is Linet, a single mother of two who works in the informal fish market.
“Before, I feared even being seen at the clinic,” Linet says softly. “Now, I walk with courage. My children see me living – not just surviving.”
United Methodists in Naivasha host a community meeting that includes information on a community garden and HIV and AIDS prevention and treatment. Photo courtesy of Paul Matheri.
As the world observes World AIDS Day, the Naivasha lakeside reminds us that progress is not only in numbers but in the transformed hearts of communities once silenced by fear. Through faith, partnership and shared humanity, hope is rippling outward beyond the waters of Lake Naivasha – one life, one family, one shoreline at a time.
On World AIDS Day, to help further the progress made in treatment and prevention of HIV and AIDS as well as in supporting people who live with the virus, give a gift to the Global AIDS Fund, Advance #982345.
The Rev. Dr. Paul Matheri is the dean of superintendents for the United Methodist Kenya-Ethiopia Annual Conference and co-founder and director of INUA Partners in Hope, which supports and empowers orphans and vulnerable youth in Naivasha.
This content was originally published by the General Board of Global Ministries; republished with permission by ResourceUMC on December 4, 2025.